{"id":24748,"date":"2020-05-18T19:26:39","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T19:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/05\/18\/covid-driven-boot-camp-test-at-keesler-graduates-first-class\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:41:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:41:16","slug":"covid-driven-boot-camp-test-at-keesler-graduates-first-class","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2020\/05\/18\/covid-driven-boot-camp-test-at-keesler-graduates-first-class\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-driven boot camp test at Keesler graduates first class"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The first class of new airmen to attend basic military training<\/a> at an alternative location \u2014 which the Air Force is testing as a way to keep operating during the coronavirus pandemic \u2014 graduated on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Almost 60 airmen from the 37th Training Wing, Detachment 5, attended their six-week BMT course at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi due to COVID-19 safety concerns<\/a>. It was part of a proof of concept test by Air Education and Training Command, to see if the Air Force could create new airmen at multiple locations during unusual situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It marks the first time any airmen have graduated from BMT at a site other than Texas\u2019 Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland<\/a> since 1968.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese changes are part of our operational mindset to fight through COVID-19 and mitigate force health risks,\u201d Maj. Gen. Andrea Tullos, commander of the Second Air Force, said in late March, when the Air Force announced the new location and other coronavirus-driven changes to BMT. \u201cWe continue to carefully balance the need to deliver mission ready forces to our operational commanders with the force health protection measures we must responsibly take to preserve the welfare of our families and the extensive network of communities across our nation we call home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Graduating airmen stand in formation on the drill pad during the basic military training graduation ceremony at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 15. (Kemberly Groue\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tullos said that the Air Force is also trying to spread out where it provides BMT, or boot camp training, to allow it to be flexible, ease the strain on its infrastructure, and be able to surge its training capacity when necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AETC spokeswoman Marilyn Holliday said in an email Monday that officials this week will study the results from the Keesler test, and decide how to move forward. This is the only class of BMT trainees that has so far trained elsewhere, Holliday said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t